Combined shoveling and grain dumping board



March 27, 1934. G. B. NELSON COMBINED SHOVELING AND GRAIN DUMPING BOARDFiled April 2, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l (y iverzfz fy a WG/jafi/ MM? Z4 March 27, 1934. G, NELSON 1,952,883

COMBINED SHOVELING AND GRAIN DUMPING BOARD Filed April 2, 1951 4Sheets-Sheet 2 March 27, 1934. NELSON 1,952,883

COMBINED SHOVELING AND GRAIN DUMPING BOARD Filed April 2, 1931 4Sheets-Sheet 3 jm97%z I March 27, '1934. B, NELSON COMBINED SHOVELINGAND GRAIN DUMPING BOARD Filed April 2, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gyezi M92 yMM R Patented Mar. 27, 1934 PATENT OFFICE COMBINED SHOVELING AND GRAINDUMPING BOARD George B. Nelson, Redfield, Iowa Application April 2,1931, Serial No. 527,156

7 Claims.

' The present invention relates to combined shoveling and grain dumpingboards for vehicle bodies, boxes or the like.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide an end gateconstruction for a vehicle body, box or the like, adapted to be adjustedso as to be used not only for retaining material in the vehicle body orbox, but likewise as a dumping or shoveling board when loading orunloading the body or box.

The invention comprehends the idea of providing an end gate structurewhich may be easily and readily applied to an ordinary vehicle body, boxor the like, which may have been equipped with the ordinary end ortail-board.

Another object of the invention is to provide an end gate constructionfor vehicle bodies, boxes or the like adapted to provide a tightstructure for effectively retaining bulk materials, such as grains andthe like, and when unlocked to be adapted for instantaneous use as a.dumping board.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable end gateconstruction adapted to be used as a dumping board or end gate and whichmay be readily moved into a position for use as a shoveling board foreither loading or unloading the vehicle body, box or the like.

The invention further contemplates the idea of providing an adjustableend gate construction for vehicle bodies, boxes and the like adapted tobe used as a dumping .board, as likewise as a shoveling board and whenso .used to be supported by supplemental side gates adapted to be swunginto position for such use and to support loads applied to the end gatemember.

A further. object of the present invention is to provide an adjustableend .gate construction. in which these supplemental side gate membersare adapted to be swung into an overlapping position adjacent the maingate for reinforcing the same, means being further provided on the maingate for holding these supplemental gates in this posi-' tion and toprovide a compact andneatly arranged structure. 7 a

A still further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable endgate construction for vehicle bodies, boxes and the like, in which themain gate is normally pivotally mounted for use as a dumping board,'butadapted to be moved or lowered into a position to be used as a shovelingboard. In the embodiment selected to illustrate the invention, means isprovided on the main gate and is adapted to interengage with means onthe supplemental'sidegates for supporting and holding the main gate in ashoveling board position. Means is further provided for holding thesesides gates against swinging movement when the same are in a positionfor support of said main gate.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended bythe invention as will later appear and as are inherently possessedthereby.

Referring to the drawings: 7

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a vehicle body or boxhaving an embodiment of the present invention attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in horizontal cross section of the vehiclebody shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and disclosing in detail theeonstruction of the embodiment of the present invention attachedthereto.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the vehicle body of Fig.l of the drawingsand disclosing the embodiment of the present inventionin an open position as used for a dumping board.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the vehicle body anddisclosing the embodiment of the present invention inan open position asused for a shoveling board.

7 Fig. 5 is a broken view in cross section taken in a plane representedby the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the vehicle body anddiscloses the main gate of the embodiment of the present invention asused for a dumping board, the same being supported on the side gates.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, an-embodiment of thepresent invention is shown in association with a vehicle body orboxhaving the sides l and 2 and a bottom or flooring 3 connected tothese sides by any suitable means, this floor or bottom 3 beingsupported upon transverse members, such as the beam 4 or the like. Theseside members or" the vehicle body or box are braced and held againstoutward movement by the brace members 5 connected as by means of bolts,screws, or the like 6, to the flooring 3 and the sides. 7

This vehicle body or box isof the ordinary construction a'ndis usuallyprovidedat the rear end thereof with upright members 7 and 8 spacedapart and adapted to provide shoulders for 'the reception of theordinary end gate or tail board for retaining the material in thevehicle body'or the like. If, the vehiclebody or box is not providedwith such upright members, these bers may be provided in the presentconstruction and are secured to the sides of the body or box by means ofscrews 9 or the like. In order to prevent outward movement of the boxsides, a chain 10 is provided and has its ends secured in the eyes ofeye-bolts 11 passing through the upright members 8 and being connectedto the sides 1 and 2 of the vehicle body or box.

The chain 10 is formed in two parts and is connected together by a linkor catch 12 adapted to draw the sides 1 and 2 together and to take upany slack in the chain member.

The present gate construction includes a main gate 13 of frame likeconstruction comprising a rear backing member or members 14., uprightside cleats 15 and 16 and top and bottom cleats 1'7 and 13 secured tothe backing member or members 14 to provide a rigid construction. Thismain gate 13 is provided with latch members 19 and 20 secured adjacentthe upper edge thereof and provided with latch bolts 21 operated byhandle 22, and pivoted in openings in metal plates 23 covering theinside faces of the upright members 7 and secured thereto and projectingabove the upper edge of the sides 1 and 2 and the upper end of theupright members '7. This main gate 13 is normally adapted to swing aboutthe latch bolts 21 and when-in a closed position is adapted to be incontacting engagement with stop members 24 having certain of their facescovered by a metal plate 25, these stop members being secured by meansof bolts 26 to the sides 1 and 2 or" the vehicle body or box and betweenthe upright cleats or members 7 and 8.

As more clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6 of the drawings, this main endgate is adapted to swing outwardly about the latch bolt 21 as a pivotpoint whereby the same is adapted to be used as a dumping board. Vvhenthis main gate is in its closed position and in contacting engagementwith the stop members 24, the latch bolts 27 of latch mechanisms 28secured to both sides of the gate are adapted to engage with keepers inthe upright members 7 for locking this main gate in this closed positionfor effectively retaining materials within the vehicle body or box.

In order that the main gate 13 may be used as a shoveling board,supplemental side gears 29 and 30 are provided and are swingably mountedas by means of the hinge members 31* to the upright members '7. Thesesupplemental side gates 29 and 30 are adapted to be swung outwardly intothe position as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings when it is desired touse the main gate 13 as a dumping board, or to be swung into anoverlapping position as disclosed in Fig. 1 of the drawings when themain gate is in a closed position for the purpose of reinforcing thismain gate and to provide a compact and neat construction. If it isdesired to prevent inward movement of the main gate toward the body ofthe vehicle when the same is used as a dumping board, the side gates maybe connected together and held against outward swinging movement by thechain 38.

j The main gate may then be swung rearwardly about the latch bolts 21into a position where the latch bolts 27 will engage with the upper edgeof the side gates; When the main gate is in this position, latch bolts2'7 may be moved, so as to engage these side gates, as clearly shown inFig. 6 of the drawings. These supplemental gates are preferably madefrom sheet metal or the like and have their lower edge rolled to providean upstanding flanged portion 31 adapted to engage l withthe flanges 32of sheet metal pieces 33, se-

cured to the side cleats 15 and 16 of the main gate 13, by means ofscrews 34 or the like.

When it is desired to use the main gate 13 as a shoveling board, thesame is detached from the upright members 7 and 23 and lowered or movedinto the position as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The sidegates 29 and 30 are swung into the position as shown in this figure ofthe drawings, at which time the flange portions 31 and 32 of the sidegates and main gate respectively, engage. The main gate 13 is thensupported by the side gates in a position to be used as a shovelingboard for loading or unloading material into or out of the vehicle bodyor box. The lower edge of the main gate when the same is in a shovelingboard position, is in abutting relation with the stop members 24 forholding this main gate and to prevent inward movement thereof.

Each of the supplemental side gates 29 and 30 are provided with a strapmember 35 secured thereto by means of rivets 36 or the like, adjacentthe upper edge thereof for reinforcing and strengthening these sides.Each of these straps project beyond the lower edge of the supplementalgates at their forward edge or end and have a lug or ear 37 securedthereto. To each of these lugs 3'7 is attached a section of a chain 38adapted to be connected together by a catch or link 39 for drawing theside gates 29 and 30 inwardly toward one another to prevent swingingmovement of the same outwardly when the main gate 13 is supportedthereby and in a position to be used as a shoveling board. It will beobserved that the lower edge of these supplemental side gates slopeupwardly away from the vehicle body or box in an outwardly direction soas to provide a sloping support for the main gate 13 when the same isused as a shoveling board to prevent loss of material from the vehiclebody of box when the same is in this position.

When the main gate 13 is used as an end gate for the vehicle body orbox, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the supplemental sidegates 29 and 30 are swung into an overlapping position as shown in thisfigure. When the same are in this position, these gates are held bymeans of a latch member 40 pivoted to a strap 41 spanning between thecleats 17 and 18 and secured thereto by means of screws 42 or the like.The latch member 40 is provided at its'upper end with a hook 43 adaptedto support the ends of the sections of the chain 39 and to prevent theirdragging or hanging from the lugs 3'7.

From the above disclosure, it will be quite apparent that the main gate13 may be easily and readily moved or lowered from the position shown inFigure 1 of the drawings into the position shown in Figure 4 of thedrawings whereby the same may be used as a shoveling board. When thismain gate is pivoted at its upper edge, the same may be used as adumping board by merely retracting the latch bolts 27 from their keepersso as to permit the rearward swinging thereof as clearly shown in Fig. 3of the drawings, or the same may be swung rearwardly and supported inplace by means of the latch bolts 27, as shown in Fig. 6 of thedrawings.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown anillustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited thereto, but may comprehend otherconstructions, arrangements of parts,; details and features withoutdeparting from the spirit oi the invention.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. The combination of a wagon body or box, a main end gate detachablycarried thereby, said gate being adapted to be pivotally connected tosaid body for swinging movement to a position out of the way of the loadwhereby to dump the contents of said body, supplemental side gatesswingably connected to said body, said main gate also adapted to bepositioned below said side gates so as to be used as a shoveling board,and means for supporting said main gate on said side gates when used asa shoveling board or dumping board.

2. The combination of a wagon body or box, a main end gate detachablycarried thereby, said gate being adapted to be pivotally connected tosaid body for swinging movement to a position out of the way of the loadwhereby to dump the contents of said body, supplemental side gatesswingably connected to said body, said main gate being adapted to belowered between said side gates so as to be used as a shoveling board,said side gates having means for supporting said main gate, means tosupport said main gate on said side gates when used as a dumping board,stop means for said main gate, and means for holding said side gatesagainst swinging movement.

3. In an adjustable vehicle body end gate, the combination of uprightposts secured to said body, stop members between said posts, a pivotallymounted upwardly swinging main gate normally in contacting engagementwith said members, means for locking said gate in said position forretaining material in said body, supplemental side gates swingablyconnected to said body, said main gate being adapted to be lowered intoa position to be used as a shoveling board, and means for supportingsaid main gate on said side gates, said His main gate being adapted toabut said stop members when said gate is in its lowered position.

4. In an adjustable vehicle body end gate, the combination of uprightposts secured to said body, stop members between said posts, metal platemembers secured to certain of said posts and extending above said body,a main gate pivotally mounted in said plate members for upwardlyswinging movement and normally in contacting engagement with said stopmembers, means for locking said gate in said position for retainingmaterial in said body, supplemental side gates swingably connected tosaid body, said main gate being adapted to be lowered into a position tobe used as a shoveling board, and means for supporting said main gate onsaid side gates, said main gate being adapted to abut said stop memberswhen said gate is in its lowered position.

5. In an adjustable vehicle body end gate, the combination of uprightposts secured to said body, stop members between said posts, a pivotallymounted upwardly swinging main gate normally in contacting engagementwith said members, means for locking said gate in said position forretaining material in said body, supplemental side gates swingablyconnected to said body adapted to be moved into overlapping positionadjacent said main gate, means on said main gate for holding said sidegates in said position to reinforce said main gate, said main gate beingadapted to be lowered into a position to be used as a shoveling board,and means for supporting said main gate on said side gates when in saidlowered position, said main gate adapted to abut with said stop memberswhen in said lowered position.

6. In an adjsutable vehicle body end gate, the combination of uprightposts secured to said body, stop members between said posts, metal platemembers secured to certain of said posts and extending above said body,a main gate pivotally mounted in said plate members for upwardlyswinging movement and normally in contacting engagement with said stopmembers, means for locking said gate in said position for retainingmaterial in said body, supplemental side gates swingably connected tosaid body adapted to be moved into overlapping position adjacent saidmain gate, means on said main gate for holding said side gates in saidposition to reinforce said main gate, said main gate being adapted to belowered into a position to be used as a shoveling board, and means forsupporting said main gate on said side gates when in said loweredposition, said main gate adapted to abut with said stop members when insaid lowered position.

7. A vehicle body end gate comprising a main gate,,supplemental sidegates swingably connected to said body, said main gate adapted to bepivotally connected at the top thereof to said body whereby to dump thecontents of said body, and adapted to be moved into a position to beused as a shoveling board, means to support said main gate on said sidegates when in the former position and means to support said main gate onsaid side gates when in the latter position.

GEORGE B. NELSON.

